Friday, April 19, 2013

Earth Friendly Liquid Soap Part 2

Last week we showed you how to dilute our Castile soap paste, this week we'll be focusing on how to make toxin-free natural cleaners for your home.

When you think of cleaning the house the images that come to mind are thick rubber gloves, white powders and foams, bleach, and strong fumes. Cleaning does not have to be this way! Natural cleaners can certainly do the trick with less chemicals and more economically than buying commercial products. Simple ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, and citrus oil can be used to degrease and lift dirt, and chances are they'll already be in your cupboards! We've devised 3 recipes using our Castile soap that will help make a cleaner home and happier inhabitants.

First is our recipe for a Natural Dish Soap. This soap combines the gentle cleansing action of our Castile soap with two natural surfactants that increase foaming capabilities and help to wash away dirt. It also contains d-Limonene, a natural cleanser derived from the rinds of citrus fruit, to help lift grease and stuck-on food.

To make: Combine Part B in a small container, mixing well. Mix Part A together in a separate container, whisking gently until all products are combined. The decyl glycoside we used had partially solidified, you can see it settled at the bottom here:

It will melt with the heat of the warm water. After whisking for a couple seconds you'll start to see an immediate change in texture, the mixture will seize up to a gel-like viscosity.

This is due to a reaction between the castile soap and the amphosol. It's actually quite fascinating and would be a great project to do with kids! Add the polysorbate/essential oil mixture to the soap and whisk well. You'll see that instantly the mixture turns to a milky, watery substance!

The next recipe is for an All-Purpose Spray Cleaner with antibacterial properties, great for all kitchen and bathroom surfaces. Both Lavender and Tea Tree essential oils have antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, and Tinosan is also a natural antimicrobial preservative and deodorant that kills harmful bacteria and fungus. Originally used in hospitals, Tinosan has since been approved for use in body care products as a natural antimicrobial preservative.

To make: Combine Part B in a small container, mixing well. Mix Part A together in a separate container, whisking gently until all products are combined and the Borax is completely dissolved.

Add Part B to the mix, then package into our 500 ml PET White Oval Cleaner Bottles! *Please Note* Tinosan is very light sensitive. If it's exposed to light for extended periods of time it will turn black and lose its effectiveness. To avoid this, always package your products that contain Tinosan in opaque containers that don't allow any light in.

Our last recipe is for our Enzymatic Soft Scrub. Soft scrubs have grown increasingly in popularity over the past couple of years with the huge population of do-it-yourself-ers. This soft scrub is a semi-solid paste that works especially well on heavy grime, such as bath tubs, ovens, ventilation hoods, garbage cans and toilets. It can also be diluted and used in the laundry, as a stain remover, and in all-purpose sprays! This recipe contains a high percentage of Enzymatic Concentrate which is comprised of natural fast acting bacteria that digest organic matter such as fats, carbohydrates, proteins, urea, etc. Enzymatic Concentrate will remove odour and is completely biodegradable.

Add Part B and mix slowly until a paste is formed with an even consistency.

Tip: To use, cut a lemon in half and rub a quarter-sized spoonful of the paste on it. Use the lemon to scrub the item you're cleaning, it will help dissolve hard dirt and scum and leave a fresh scent! If you don't have a lemon on hand a regular scouring pad will do.

These are just a few ways we can cut down on the chemicals you use around your home. Try using half a cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle as a laundry softener, or diluted with water for a window glass cleaner! Try using olive oil and lemon juice as a wood polish, or baking soda as a deodorizer for pet bedding! This Earth Day let's all take action to support the beautiful planet we live on!